The Gordon Group compilied a list of items for consideration to prepare for your overnight guests. Having over night guests can be fun - but also stressful - we hope this will help with removing some of the stress and leaving more time to enjoy! If we missed anything feel free to add more idea's in the comments.
Grand Rapids / Wyoming has made many top ten lists! It does not surprise me. As a person who is not from here - I can see things other take for granite. My family and I moved here in 2001 - 2 weeks before 9/11. When 9/11 happened, we saw this community pull together and help each other, we knew we had moved to an awesome place.However, we did feel we were lacking some big city ammenties at the time. Over the years we have watched Grand Rapids grow. Not only grow but making sure they grow with the "family" in mind. We have lived a lot of places and I am not sure I have seen such growth with out compromise to the community and thier familes.In the last 14 years, we have watch the rise and then the fall in 2008, however with great comeback and for the last several years, we are the ...
If you have been reading my blog or following the news you know Grand Rapids, Michigan is continues to be limited inventory as we have about 3 months inventory - however the month of October was possibly historic! Per GRAR - “The number of units sold (closed sales) through the end of October is ahead of last year by 12.3% and volume is up by 21.5%! The average sale price continues to climb and is now at $178,460 (last year at this time it was $165,051). Inventory remains our biggest challenge with only a 2.7 month supply”. This is awesome news, but can lead to some not so awesome decisions. Even with this report you still must price right to be part of this band wagon. However price is not the only concern. I am finding many homeowners are wanting to list their home and not do anythin...
The Gordon Group visited Barbara Corcoran last week Friday in the beautiful Fountain Street Church. It got us thinking about all the Historic churches in Grand Rapids such as St. Andrews, St. Marks, and Park Church dating as far back as 1840. The Churches shaped the coarse of Grand Rapids development,and many of the churches are being re-purposed and some are being renovated as apartments and condos. If you are visiting or reigniting with Grand Rapids here is a map to visitt all the beautiful churches Downtown Grand Rapids has to offer courtesy of gvmc.org The Churches around Downtown Grand Rapids showcase beautiful Art and a wonderful atmosphere.As I walk Downtown and hear the tolling of the church bells I know that history is all around me, History that Grand Rapi...
By Lynn Afton, REALTOR® Near Big Rapids, MI, Mecosta County
(Greenridge Realty Oakmont)
Greater Grand Rapids, Michigan Area Easter Egg Hunts April 4th, 2015: Blythefield CRC Easter Egg Hunt 10:00 AM. Cost: free. Blythefield Christian Reformed Church, 6350 Kuttshill Dr. NE, Rockford. Easter Egg Hunt 10:00 AM. Cost: free. Ivanrest Church, 3777 Ivanrest SW, Grandville. Victorian Easter Egg Hunt 10:00 AM. Cost: $5.00 suggested donation per child. Cappon House, 228 W 9th St, Holland. Easter Egg Hunt at East Paris Christian Reformed Church 2:00 PM. Cost: free. East Paris Christian Reformed Church, 3065 East Paris Ave SE, Kentwood. Easter Egg Hunt at Oakville Community Church 1:00 PM. Cost: free. Oakview Community Church, 4242 Plainfield NE, Grand Rapids. Community Easter Egg Hunt at Hillcrest Church 10:00 AM. Cost: free. Hillcrest CRC, 3617 Hillcrest Rd....
By Lynn Afton, REALTOR® Near Big Rapids, MI, Mecosta County
(Greenridge Realty Oakmont)
Every year around this time, I love to go visit the Butterfly Exhibit at Frederick Meijer Gardens in Grand Rapids, MI. If you have never seen it, You Must Go! Breathtakingly beautiful, the butterflies flit amongst orchid plants in full bloom, and an amazing array of some gigantic tropical greenery in this huge atrium. Every year there are new additions to the butterflies and the orchids, and it is fascinationg to see the cocoons in various stages of hatching these winged fairies. There are also a few unusual birds that grace the atrium, and even a creek and a waterfall! The parking is free, and outside you can enjoy the beautiful sculpture park, as well as the artist gallery inside. Entering the butterfly exhibit, you will also tour the greenhouse with succulents of almost every k...
By Richard Stewart, REO Realtor-RDCpro, CDPE Free list of Foreclosures
(REO Specialists llc)
712 Worden St SE Grand Rapids MI 49507 $30,000 3 bedroom 1.5 baths and detached garage. Lots of well kept original wood, fireplace vinyl siding and replacement windows. Seller is selling the property AS IS. Buyer to verify all data. Clients may see all data and schedule showings at www.REOmamma.com or call Richard Stewart 269-345-7000 REO Specialists llc AGENTS please follow instructions in MLS
By Richard Stewart, REO Realtor-RDCpro, CDPE Free list of Foreclosures
(REO Specialists llc)
1221 Powers Ave Grand Rapids MI 49504 $29,900 2 bedroom 2 bath ranch with detached 1 car garage. Seller is selling the property AS IS. Buyer to verify all data. Clients may see all data and schedule showings at www.REOmamma.com or call Richard Stewart 269-345-7000 REO Specialists llc AGENTS please follow instructions in MLS
How to Separate The Short Sale Myths from the Reality? It used to be that if you were facing foreclosure, it was difficult to find information about what to do. Today, distressed homeowners have the exact opposite problem. There is information everywhere, but it can be almost impossible to tell the truth from the fiction. But there is one fact that you can take to the bank: You have options. As a Certified Distressed Property Expert® (or CDPE), I make it my mission to help you separate the myth from the reality about the options that are available to you. Myth #1 – Banks prefer Foreclosures over Short Sales Reality-Foreclosures are expensive for banks. Banks usually benefit from a short sale more than foreclosures. Myth #2 – To Negotiate a Short Sale you must have misse...
Are home prices near their 2006 peak? Did you know that in many markets, home prices are near their 2006 peak prices? In our market, home prices have drastically improved and look to continue improving. So if you or someone you know has been waiting to sell your home, especially if the home was “underwater,” now is the time to start exploring options! I have a report that explains why prices keep rising and why your home is probably worth more than you think. You can download the report from my website www.DonnaHelpsHomeowners.INFO. Do you know how much your home is worth? After reading the report, contact me today for more information on our market and to discover what your home is worth now. Contact me for a free, confidential consultation, today! To Your Success! Donna
Facing Foreclosure? You Have Options! A lot has changed since you bought your home. If you or someone you know is among the 10 million homeowners who are falling further behind every single month because of an unmanageable mortgage payment, then that weight may feel unbearable. But there is actually some encouraging news: Government incentives, coupled with banks willing to help stem the foreclosure tide, are providing new opportunity. You have options, and foreclosure is not one of them! As a real estate professional with the Certified Distressed Property Expert® (CDPE) designation, I offer all of my clients the benefit of the best expertise and insights when it comes to foreclosure avoidance. Take a look at my site and download a copy of my free report entitled “Your Mortga...
Today’s real estate market in Grand Rapids, MI is very different than it was a year ago. Prices have increased rapidly over the past 6-8 months as part of a steady recovery we’re seeing take place across the nation in real estate. If you or someone you know has a home in which they owed more on their mortgage than the property was worth, that may no longer be the case. If you have thought about a short sale, it may not be needed with today's market. Or perhaps you’ve just been waiting the market out for prices to increase. Well, that time has arrived. I have a report, which explains in detail why prices have gone up and why your home might be worth more than you think! The report is entitled, “Surprising Home Prices,” ” and I believe you’ll be surprised by when you download and read th...
Don't Let Time Run Out! The Mortgage Forgiveness Debt Relief Act was passed by Congress in 2007 in an attempt to provide some relief for the millions of homeowners who found themselves owing more on their mortgage than the property was worth as a result of the collapse of the housing and finance industries. This report was created to give homeowners the most accurate information about the Mortgage Forgiveness Debt Relief Act, which has helped many distressed homeowners find options that were previously unavailable. The act, which was always intended to be a temporary solution, is now set to expire at the end of 2013. Time is running out. But there is still time to change your financial direction and avoid foreclosure. Reading this report will teach you what the Mortgage Forgiveness De...
Short sales have become increasingly common since the mortgage crisis of 2008. In fact, they accounted for 22 percent of all residential sales in 2012, according to the 2012 U.S. Foreclosure and Short Sales Report by RealtyTrac, an online marketplace for foreclosure properties. But how do you know if a short sale is the best option for you? Let ‘s review some of the misconceptions. 1. Your mortgage debt will be forgiven. In some short sales, lenders may hold the borrower responsible for the unpaid balance of the mortgage debt. To protect yourself, confirm with your lender that a deficiency judgment will not be sought afterwards. Homeowners should receive that in writing from the lender, if possible, and have it be a part of the short sale approval letter. Banks have specific paramete...
Been thinking about selling your home? If you’ve been thinking of selling your home, but don’t believe it is worth enough to cover what you owe, you might be pleasantly surprised. The reason? Prices have gone up significantly during the last year! This simple fact has helped a market that only about one year ago was still bouncing off the bottom, begin the slow, but steady process of recovery. As a result, people are buying homes again.